title: More than just clowns--Clown doctor rounds and their impact for children, families and staff.
abstract: Admission to hospital is recognised as a difficult time for children and families. This study explored clown doctor activities in an acute paediatric setting and the impact their activities have on children, their families, other health professionals and clown doctors themselves. We used observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups with children and parents and staff and clown doctors and results provide a rich description of the work of clown doctors. The major themes were 'the encounter - in the moment' of the interaction of the child and the clown doctor and 'beyond the encounter'. The findings show that the impact of clown doctor visits is experienced beyond the immediate interaction, and this has not been clearly articulated in previous studies. This study highlights the multifaceted and complex nature of the work of the clown doctors and the high level of skill required as they modify and interpret play, activities and environment based on individual need and response.
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Tasmanian Health Organisation-South and School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of TasmaniaHumour Foundation; Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, AustraliaPractice Development Unit, Tasmanian Health Organisation - South karen.ford@dhhs.tas.gov.au.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Tasmanian Health Organisation-South and School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Tasmania.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Courtney-Pratt
authors.affiliation: Humour Foundation; Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Leigh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tesch
authors.affiliation: Practice Development Unit, Tasmanian Health Organisation - South.
authors.forename: Caddi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D066296:Grounded Theory; D006282:Health Personnel; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D027641:Laughter Therapy; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D010820:Physicians; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic
keywords: Clown doctors; hospitalised children; humour; play; therapeutic care